Typewriter keyboard



Oct. 27, 1931.

J. M. OSTREY TYPEWRIIER KEYBOARD Filed Sept. 23. 192$ By @mm A iforney 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Oct. 27, 1931. M OSTREY 1,828,939

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE RD Patented Oct. 27, 1931 PATENT orrlca "JOSEPH mmnon os'rm, or nos enemas,

mawmraa xnnoaan Application mm September as; 1aaa-. Serial 10.3mm.

The present invention relates to improvements in the arrangement of the keys of a typewriter keyboard wherein the keys are arranged to provide a scientific distribution of the letters and symbols over the keyboard with the object of so disposing the same that the maximum efliciency may be obtained in the mani ulation of the keys.

One 0 the important objects of the pres tion; which may be moved into a desired adjusted position in an efficient and practical manner and which at the same time may be manufactured at relatively low cost.

Further objects and advantages-reside in the special construction, combination and arrangement of the various elements forming the invention as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forrmng part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: Y

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of the improved keyboard,

Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified arrangement thereof,

Figure3 is a side elevational view of one ofthe keys and operating levers attached thereto,

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one of the keys with diagrams illustrating the various adjustable position of the keys.

T Figure 5 is a plan view of the key with the letter plate removed, and

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional 'view therethrough.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and with particular reference to Figure 1, the numeralfi designates generally the keyboard of a typewriter, which includes a plulapping relation with the under side of the ralit of ke s 6 arranged in rows parallel to the ront edge of the machine.

It has been found after conducting an exhaustive test that the standard keyboard as commonly used upon typewriters is not in- 56 ducive to producing the most accurate work.

It is accordingly the purpose of the present invention to so arrange the keyboard that the percentage of inaccuracies commonly occurring will. be materially reduced and at the 60 same time enable the attainment of greater speed.

For this purpose the keys 6 are arranged in vertical as well as horizontal rows and in my machine said vertical rows of keys inclme upwardly and toward the left. This inclined arrangement simplifies the location of the keys to the student and at the same time. permits of an economy in the space or area of the keyboard by reason of the staggered arrangement. of the adjacent keys of the horizontal rows.

The keys of the horizontal rows and the keys of the vertical rows are spaced a uniform distance apart, preferably twenty-three thirty seconds of an mch.

However in order to enable the keys to be adjusted either horizontally or vertically to suit the individual peculiarities of the operator, the key lever 7 is provided with the usual upstanding bar 8 and has its upper end formed with a threaded bore 9. Within this bore a screw 10 is threaded, the screw being inserted through a longitudinal slotted opening 11 formed in the annular disc '12 which constitutes the-head of the key.

The edges of the slotted opening 11 are beveled as shown at 13 in order that the head of the screw may be countersunk below the upper surface of the disk 12. On top of the 7 disc 12 the letter plate 14 is positioned and secured in place by an annular ring 15 disposed circumferentially about the disc and having its opposite edges arranged in overdisc as well as with the upper surface ofthe letter plate 14, as will be clearly apparent from an inspection of Figure 6 of the drawm 2 I By reason of this construction it will be no readily understood that the head of the key may be adjusted either vertically or hor zontally intr any desired position as 1nd1- cated by the dotted line shown in Figure 4.

In Figure 2 of the drawings a modified arrangement of the keyboard is illustrated, the vertical rows of the keys at the right and left hand sides of the vertical center line of the keyboard being incl ned in, a direction toward each other.

This arrangement of the keyboard has been 1 found desirable in order that each hand of the operator would move in a natural direction toward each other as the fingers reach for the keys of the uppermost rows of the keyboard. I If desired, the gap which it will beseen occurs at the lower portion of the center of the keyboard, may be .filled in by placing some of the less frequently used keys therein, such as for instance the tabulator keys, the back spacer or the like.

It is obvious that my invention is suscep tible to various changes and modifications in construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims, and I accordingly claim all surlzhdforms of the device to which I am entit'e Having thus described my invention, what I I claim as new is:

1. In a typewriter key board, the combination of a key lever, and a head adjustably mounted on the end of the key lever for ad- 'justment in a direction transverse to the lever.

2. In a typewriter key board, the combination of a key lever, a head mounted on the end of the key lever and having a transverse slot, and a screw seated in said slot and engaged with the lever for securing the said head at diiferent adjusted positions.

3. In a typewriter key board, the combination of a key lever having an upwardly bent end forming a supporting post, a key head mounted on said post and having atransverse slot, and a lock screw having itshead seated in the said slot of the key head and itsjshank threadedly engaged with the said post of the key lever for securing the key head in different adjusted positions. a

4. In a typewriter key board, the combination of a key lever terminating at its outer end in an upstanding rod having a threaded bore, aidisk supported on said rod and having a transversely elongated opening provided with bevelled edges, a securing element having its head countersunk in the opening of the disk and its shank threadedly engaged in the bore of the rod, a letter-plate disposed upon said disk, and means engaging the ed of the disk and plate for securing the plate upon the disk.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH METHOD OSTREY. 

